Container forming method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

Improved method and apparatus for moving a previously work hardened metal container past a rotatable wheel element and while said wheel element is moved into and out of selective contact with the side wall of the container in order to shape the side wall of the container and produce a final metal container having improved deep drawn and work hardened characteristics.

United States Patent I 1 Kindelvich et al. Nov. 27, 1973 54] CONTAINER FORMING METHOD AND 1,460,079 6/1923 Salisbury 113 120 M 2,265,723 12/1941 Dewey et al. 72/81 APPARATUS 3,556,032 1/1971 Fraze 113/1 0 Inventors: Frederick T. Kindelvich, Orinda,

Robert K. Richter, Walnut Creek, both of Calif.

Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation, Oakland, Calif.

Filed: June 16 1972 Appl. N0.: 263,636

US. Cl. 113/1 G, 113/120 M, 72/81 Int. Cl B2ld 51/26 Field of Search 113/120 H, 120 R,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1907 Thiel 113/1201-1 Primary ExaminerRichard J. Herbst Attorney-Paul E. Calrow et al.

ABSTRACT Improved method and apparatus for moving a previously work hardened metal container past a rotatable wheel element and while said wheel element is moved into and out of selective contact with the side wall of the container in order to shape the side wall of the container and produce a final metal container having improved deep drawn and work hardened characteristics.

40 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PAIENTEUNUVZY ms 3.774.559

SHEET 1 OF 5 PATENTED NOV 27 I975 SHEET 2 OF 5 CONTAINER FORMING METHOD AND APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for forming a metal container. More particularly, it relates to an improved method and apparatus for controllably shaping the side wall of a previously work hardened metal container without materially or substantially thinning or weakening the container side wall and without deleteriously scoring the side wall or otherwise marring the surface finish thereof. This shaping of the side wall is effected primarily by the selective and controlled cold flowing of the metal by the application thereto of a force that preferably slightly exceeds the yield strength of the metal so that no deleterious thinning or stretching of the metal will take place in the container side wall as the container is moved in a predetermined fashion past a freely rotatable die wheel. This wheel can be moved in selected increments transversely of the containers longitudinal axis as the container is simultaneously rotated and moved in an axial direction past the rotatable die wheel. The instant method and apparatus constitute improvements over those illustrated in US. Pat. Nos. 2,330,811, 2,966,872, 3,098,461, 2,628,584 and 3,260,089. During the wall forming operation, the side wall of the container is supported in an improved fashion whereby it is fully restrained against buckling or collapse irrespective of the particular drawing or forming pressure ex- I erted thereon. At the same time, some advantageous additional work hardening will take place which can improve the overall physical properties of the container side wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The method and apparatus of the invention generally involve the controlled support and containment of the side wall of an open ended previously work hardened metal can body or workpiece between a mandrel device and a forming wheel, whereby, as the can body is translated laterally relative to the wheel, the wheel selectively contacts the side wall of the workpiece and causes the controlled cold flowing of the side wall into the desired configuration which can be quite intricate without the side wall buckling, collapsing or being materially or deleteriously thinned. In this operation, the wheel resembles or simulates the operation of a punch and the mandrel of a draw ring of a standard punchpress draw die.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an ovrall perspective view of a preferred form of an apparatus that can be used to carry out the method of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view with parts broken away taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and with parts added;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view taken within the bounds of circumscribing line 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a mandrel finger element taken along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of another finger element taken along line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmented perspective view of the spindle assembly of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6A is an enlarged sectional view taken within the bounds of encompassing line 6A of FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a collapsible container support with parts removed and taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8A is a longitudinal sectional view with parts added and other parts broken away of the spindle expanding device of the apparatus of FIG. 1 shown in a collapsed position;

FIG. 8B is a sectional view similar to FIG. 8A and illustrates the expanded position of the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 8C is a cross-sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG 8B;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged elevational schematic viewtaken within the bounds of circumscribing line 9 of FIG 10B and illustrates the progressive forming of the side wall of a container during operation of the apparatus of FIG. I; and

FIGS. 10A and 10B comprise schematic views of the apparatus of FIG. I in different operating positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION With further reference to the drawings, FIGS. I-IOB illustrate a preferred embodiment of a shaping apparatus 10 for controllably cold flowing the side wall of a suitable previously work hardened metallic cup-shaped article C which generally comprises a spindle assembly 12 mounted on framework F provided with a cup receiving end E.

The spindle part of the apparatus further includes an internal mandrel assembly 14 mounted'for rotation about and reciprocal longitudinal movement along axis A. As indicated in FIGS. 8A and 8B and as will be described hereinafter, the mandrel assembly generally sembly 14 is provided with sets 15 and 16 of container engaging fingers and segmented elements appropriately biased between extended and retracted positions so as to be able to freely fit within and support the open.

endedcontainer C, all in a manner to be described in more detail hereinafter.

A cam operated free wheeling forming tool or wheel assembly 20 is cooperatively associated with mandrel assemblies 14 and 14'. Mandrel assemblies 14 and 14' translate or move'theopen ended container C across the operating path of the forming wheel assembly.

Mandrel assembly 14' includes an appropriate plunger for holding workpiece C on and about mandrel assembly 14 during the forming of the container side wall. The plunger of assembly 14' generally fits against the outside bottom of the container C at the same time certain elements of mandrel assembly 14 engage the inside surface of the side wall and bottom of the container C in a manner to be described hereinafter.

A feeder chute 18 supplies container bodies C that have previously drawn and ironed on a standard draw and iron press such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,314,374 to a pocketed and indexing starwheel type device 19 disposed between mandrel assembly 14 and mandrel assembly 14'. Wheel 19 operates to feed workpieces C to the mandrel assembly 14 with the cooperation of mandrel assembly 14' and to remove finally formed blanks C shaped by wheel 20 from the apparatus 10.

A detailed description of apparatus will now be given. As indicated particularly in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, spindle assembly 12 includes housing 22 and concentrically arranged short and long sleeves 24 and 26 rotatably mounted therein by means of bearing assemblies 30 and 32 and 34 and 36.

As viewed particularly in FIG. 2, the mandrel sleeve 24 turns in the spindle housing 22 by means of preloaded ball bearings 30 and 30. Preloading the bearings is performed by threaded ring 32 bearing against the inner bearing races and spacers 46, 46' and against a shoulder 48 of the sleeve 24. Mandrel sleeve 26 also turns in the spindle housing by means of preloaded ball bearings 34 and 34'. Preloading these bearings is per formed by a threaded ring 32 bearing against the inner bearing races and spacers 36 and 36 and against a shoulder 53 of the mandrel sleeve 26. The bearings 30, 30' and 34, 34 are lubricated by an oil mist system through openings at 54 and 56 and scavenged at the bottom through opening 58.

The right hand and reduced end 62 of sleeve 26 as viewed in FIG. 2 is smaller in its outer diameter than the inner diameter of sleeve 24 so that this portion of sleeve 26 fits fr'eely inside of sleeve 24. As indicated particularly in FIGS. 2 and 6, portion 62 of sleeve 26 is fitted with springy arcuate fingers 64 that can'move out radially under the influence of a cam mechanism and into contact with the container side wall. Fingers 64 are separated from each other by longitudinally extending slots all as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. Circumferentially disposed about the fingers 64 is a clamping spring element 74 which urges fingers 64 to a normal retracted or radially collapsed position. Located intermediate an annular raised rib 68 at the area of mergence between reduced end portion 62 of sleeve 26 (see FIG. 2) and the inner ends of fingers 64 at the outer end of the sleeve is a spring retainer element 74. Each finger is provided with an outwardly extending container engageable radial lug 70.

As indicated particularly in FIGS. 6 and 6A, the inside of sleeve 24 and outer surfaces 72 of lug elements 70 on the end portions of fingers 64 define an annular gap 76 of sufficient width and length to comfortably slidingly receive the side wall of container C to be worked on without the surface finish of the side wall being adversely affected asfingers 64 are expanded and retracted. When lug elements 70 move out under the influence of a cam mechanism to be described during rotation of sleeves 24 and 26, they will gently but firmly grip a selected portion of the container wall S and clamp the container firmly against the sleeve 24 so that the container side wall can .be worked on by forming wheel assembly without the side wall collapsing or buckling in an uncontrolled fashion.

As indicated particularly in FIGS. 2 and 6, a yoke type actuating device 78 for fingers 64 can include an annular sleeve 80 concentrically disposed within sleeve 26. Outer and inner sleeves 26 and 80 are slidably interconnected by a longitudinally extending slot 82 in sleeve 80 and a slot engaging pin 84 on sleeve 26. This linkage of sleeves 26 and 80 means that both sleeves can rotate in unison even when they slide longitudinally relative to each other and/or sleeve 24. End 86 of sleeve 80 adequately clears the inside surfaces of fingers 64.

Finger actuating mechanism 78, as indicated in FIGS. 2, 6 and 6A, further includes flanged annular draw ring retainer 96 threadedly connected to the inside of sleeve 80 and a finger actuating annular collar 98 sandwiched in between sleeve 80 and retainer 96. The T-shaped retainer flange 100 of retainer 96 fits about collar 98. Upon connection of sleeve 80 and retainer 96, surface 104 of collar 98 telescopes with surface 104' of retainer 96. When retainer 96- is fully threadedly connected to sleeve 80, opposed end faces 107 and 109 of collar 98 respectively abut right hand end face of sleeve 80 and inwardly facing end face of the stem portion of T-shaped flange 100 of retainer 96.

The radius of outer surface 102 of flange 100 approximates the radius of the lug surfaces 72 when fingers 64 are retracted as indicated particularly in FIG. 6A. As further indicated in FIG. 6A, when collar 98 is telescopingly disposed about retainer 96, the outer frusto conical surface 108 of collar 98 will normally mate with a similar surface on each of the fingers 64 while the tips of fingers 64 comfortably fit within the flange recess 112 provided by T-flange 100.

The left hand end face 116 of retainer flange 100 is normally sufficiently spaced from the opposing end face 118 of a finger lug of each finger 64 so as to allow full clearance between these end faces 116 even when sleeve is moved somewhat relative to sleeve 26. Retainer 96 is sufficiently spaced from sleeve 24 along with sleeve 26 as to continue'the gap 76 which accommodates the side wall S of container C.

As will become more apparent hereinafter the outer end of the annular flange of retainer 96 advantageously acts in the fashion of a draw ring-during the cold flowing forming and controlled deformation of the container side wall S and an arc of somewhat generous radius is accordingly provided at the point of intersection 103 between retainer flange surface 102 and the outer radial end face 103' thereof so as to preclude any binding between the side wall of container C, and draw flange 100 during the forming operation.

As further indicated in FIGS. 1, 2, 10A and 10B, overall finger actuating mechanism 78 can include-a collar 120 that fits over sleeve80. Collar 120 is provided with an outer annular groove 122 that serves as a track for the spaced fork elements 126 of a yoke type actuating lever 124. Lever 124 is pivotally connected to a cross shaft 130 mounted within a channel 128 attached to the top of spindle housing 22. Upper end of lever 124 is inserted through a slot in the web of channel 128 and is pivotally connected to the outer end of the rod 132 of a two-way air cylinder 134. The air cylinder can'be affixed in suitable fashion between the upper flanges of channel 128 disposed on mandrel housing 22 and at its left hand end.

From the above, it will be observed that the band spring 74 that fits about fingers 64 operates to maintain fingers 64 in a fully retracted position by the action of the air cylinder 134 and sleeve 26. When air cylinder 134 is energized, however, it causes a clockwise pivotal movement of lever 124 about shaft 130 as viewed in FIG. A and a left hand movement of sleeve 80 relative to second sleeve 26. This produces a wedging action between surface 108 of collar 98 and the individual fingers 64 and an ultimate radially outward expan-' sion of the fingers 64 into gripping contact with the side wall S of a container located in gap 76.

The drive system for the spindle assembly will now be described, reference being made particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 10A and 10B. This drive system comprises a drive motor 142, the drive shaft of which motivates a sprocket 143. A toothed belt 146 is trained about sprocket 143 and another sprocket on pulley 144- locked to sleeve 26. Rotation of pulley belt 146 in either direction will, of course, produce a corresponding rotation of sleeves 26 and 80, etc.

As indicated in FIGS. 6, 8A and 88, a further advantageous embodiment of the instant invention contemplates use of an expandable finger-plunger mechanism 148 that cooperates in a unique fashion with fingers 64 and lugs 70. Finger-plunger 148 mechanism includes a hollow rod 150 that is concentrically disposed within and spline connected to sleeve 80, reference being made to FIGS. 2, 6 and 10. Rod 150 is of such length that a substantial part of the rod protrudes from sleeve 80 and to the left as viewed in FIG. 2. The opposed interior and exterior surfaces of sleeve 80 and rod 150 carry longitudinally extending interfitting splines 151 and 152 all as illustrated in FIG. 2. This means, of course, that rod 150 can rotate in unison with sleeve 80 about axis A of spindle 12 even when rod 150 is moved selected amounts longitudinally of sleeve 80.

In order to minimize frictional engagement between this flange 173 acts to hold the fingers 168 in place by effectively locking the dowel pins 164 in slots 162.

Slots 176 are of sufficient width whereby the T- shaped fingers 168 can adequately and safely clear the housing 156 and retainer 170 during pivotal movement of the fingers.

Accordingly then, as indicated in FIGS. 6 and 8A-8B, when each finger 168 is fitted within its respective groove 162 in housing 156 and when retainer 170 is properly afiixed to the outer end of housing 156, each retainer groove 176 becomes alignedwith a housing groove 162 so that the stern portion 165 of a given finger 168 fits freely within these grooves; Upon retainer 170 being affixed to housing 156, the fingers 168 will be held in place while being allowed limited outward movement for reasons that will-become more apparent hereinafter. Each finger 168 can be pivoted from its radially retracted inward position as indicated in FIG. 8A to its outwardly extended position as indicated in FIG. 8B, and vice versa during operation of the apparatus.

the right end of rod 150 and sleeve 80, the interior peripheral surface 153 of sleeve 80 at its right hand end, as viewed particularly in FIG. 2, has a greater inside diameter than the outside diameter of the radially opposed and exterior cylindrical surface 153 of the rod. An auxiliary bearing support sleeve 154 can be interposed between rod 150 and sleeve 80 for supporting rod 150 relative to the sleeve 80.

Finger-plunger mechanism 148 includes a bellshaped housing 156 that has a stepped outer surface and when this housing is fully threadedly secured to rod 150 the annular rib 158 of housing 156 abuts the end of rod 150. An indicated in FIGS. 6, 8A and 8B, the retainer 96 fits over the bell-shaped housing whereby retainer 96 is sandwiched between sleeve 80 and housing 156.

The inner portion of the larger end of housing 156 contains a plurality of radially arranged and spaced grooves 162. The stem 165 of a somewhat T-shaped finger 168 is pivotally secured by a press fitted dowel pin 164 in each of said grooves 162 in the manner shown in FIG. 6.

After emplacement of fingers 168 by pins 164 that span the grooves 162, the enlarged end of housing 156 in the area of grooves 162 can be encircled or enclosed by retainer of shroud-like element 170 held in place on housing 156 by screws 172. Retainer 170 acts to close ofi the open ends of the grooves 162. The free end of retainer 170 is provided with a flange 173 that has a number of radially disposed narrow slots 176 that are aligned with grooves or slots 162 of housing 156 and Finger-plunger assembly 148 further includes a reciprocal plunger 178 having a disk-shaped head 179. Head 179 has a diameter that approximates that of the retainer 170. Head 179 is provided with an outer end surface 186 of spherical concave shape for engaging the inside convex or dish-shaped surface of the bottom B of a container C in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 6

and 8A-8B. v

Plunger 178 can be of stepped design and fitted with a stem 188 and an integral hexagonal shaft portion 190 which is contiguous with and extends outwardly of stem 188. This hexagonal section 190 slidingly fits within the hexagonal opening 194 in bell-shaped housing 156. Be-

cause of this interlocking connection between housing 156 and section 190, rotation of housing 156 along with shaft will produce a corresponding rotation of plunger 178. Thus the enlargement or counterbore of the otherwise elongated stepped opening 151 in rod 150 communicates with opening 194 in housing 156 whereby plunger section can freely slide in and out of bore 195 in the manner depicted in FIGS. 6, 8A and 88 during operation of the apparatus. Projecting from and connected to section 190 of plunger 178 is a sleeve element 191 that fits over the end of shaft 198 concentrically disposed in hollowed out rod 150 and within opening 192 of rod 150.

The sleeve section 191. of plunger 178 is provided as indicated in FIGS. 8A-8C with opposed elongated slots 200. A pin 202 carried by rod or shaft 198 slides in these slots. A coil spring 206 that fits about rod 198 bears against plunger sleeve 191 and the interior shoulder 210 of hollow rod 150 so as to normally bias plunger 178 outward in the manner indicated in FIG. 8A.

Asindicated in FIGS. 6, 8A-8C, the outer end of hollowed out rod 150 contains a pair of transverse openings 204 alignable both with slots 200 of plunger sleeve 191 and a slot 207 in shaft 198. Pin 202 is fitted into position in the various openings 200, 204 and 207 in a manner well known in the art.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, each slot 200 of sleeve 191 has a length equal to the distance that can be travelled by plunger 178 during operation of the apparatus Upon final assembly of plunger 178 within the outer end of rod 150 and housing 156 in a manner well known in the art, rod 150 along with plunger 178, housing assembly 156, retainer sleeve 96, etc., can be inserted within sleeve 80. Upon insertion of rod 150 in sleeve 80, splines 151 and 152 of rod 150 and sleeve 80 are interfitted and the rod and sleeve interlocked as viewed in FIG. 2.

The outer end of mandrel plunger 178 is advantageously fitted with a first and second series of stepped and radially disposed alternately stepped and nonstepped cams 212 and 114 respectively. Cams 212 and 214 are each provided with finger engaging surfaces 216 and 218 respectively.

Each of the curved stem portions 165 of fingers 168 are adapted to slidably engage its respective cam 212 or 214 as the case may be, depending upon which cam is aligned therewith during operation of the apparatus.

Fingers 168 are also biasingly mounted within mandrel housing 156 and about plunger 178 as follows. Each finger 168 carries a bias pin 226 which has a groove for receiving the end of a pretensioned whiskerlike wire spring 230. Alternate wires 230 are arranged whereby the tips of the various wires alternately overlie and underlie the bias pins 226 on alternate fingers 168.

As indicated particularly in FIG. 6, a pair of inner and outer sleeve-type collars 234 and 236 are concentrically arranged intermediate the plunger 178 and bellshaped housing 156. These collars are oriented to the plunger 178 in housing 156 by the hexagonal shapes of opening 194 and shaft section 190 of plunger 178. At the same time openings 242 in collar 234 and offset openings 244 in outer collar 236 serve as anchor points for spring wires 230.

Upon assembly of the springs 230, with collars 234, 236 and fingers 168 and with plunger sleeve 191 in the retracted position of FIG. 8A, the various fingers 168 will likewise be biased to a retracted or folded umbrella-like position.

When, however, plunger 178 is urged against the bias of spring 206 and to the left as viewed in FIG. 88, upon full insertion of the open end of the container side wall S into the container receiving end of spindle 12 during apparatus operation, the various fingers 168 will be forced by their respective cams 212 and 214 to be expanded outwardly in an opened umbrella fashion and into supporting contact with the inside of the container side wall S so as to support the side wall against collapse during the forming operation to be described hereinafter. It should be noted here that the T-shaped wall contacting section 169 on certain fingers are wedged shaped in one direction, while sections 169 of alternate fingers are wedge shaped in a reverse direction whereby the tips or wings of the finger sections 169 can properly interfit together when the fingers are collapsed as in FIG. 8A and not interfere with each other during the overall expansion of the fingers as in FIG. 8B. As indicated in FIGS. 3-5 and if desired alternate heads 169 can be larger than their adjacent heads.

In order for fingers 168 to properly engage the side wall S of a container in their fully expanded positions and with minimal gapping or spread between the fingers, fingers 168 are of appropriately stepped design on the outside so as to have a shoulder 205 that engages the edge of housing 156 in the manner of a pivotal shoulder and a stop therefor.

The outer peripheral surfaces 169 of the various fingets 168 are advantageously curved with a generous radius so as to match the interior surface of the container side wall S and it is to be understood that within limits differently sized fingers 168 can be used in accordance with the particular size container beingworked on.

As indicated particularly in FIGS. 1, 2, 10A and 108, a. piston and cylinder assembly 282 can be coupled by a thrust bearing assembly 294 to the end of hollow rod 150 that projects from sleeve while being appropriately mounted on table plate 284 secured to framework F.

By virtue of this coupling, rod 150 can rotate relative to piston or actuator rod 283 and at the same time be moved axially or in a longitudinal direction along with housing 156.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the instant invention, a container forming tool or rotating wheel device 20 is disposed in transverse operative relation to the container-receiving end of a spindle 12. Wheel 20 is of standard tool steel and it is suitably dynamically balanced. Wheel or roller 20 is mounted between two standards 252 secured to a cross-slide 254 that has a dovetail portion connected to a piston-cylinder assembly 255 and slidably disposed in the cross-slide groove of base plate 260. Plate 260 is secured to a series of framework paltes 262. The outer periphery of forming wheel 20 is rounded off and the wheel is mounted to the cross slide 254 such that it is generally ofiset relative to retainer flange of inboard mandrel assembly 14 as indicated for example in FIGS. 9 and 6. The amount of this offset depends upon and preferably approximates the thickness of the side wall S of a container C to be worked on and this same amount of offset should be substantially maintained throughout the entire forming operation in order to obtain the desired controlled cold flowing of the metal. Thus, if the thickness of metal being worked is 0.010 inch the offset should be substantially the same 0.010 inch. Control of this offset is obtained by the selective speed of rotation and feeding of the container C to and past the wheel 20. Control of this offset can be further enchanced by maintaining a selective overlap of the rounded or arcuate surface of the periphery of wheel 20 and the rounded or arcuate surface 103 of retainer 100. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the radius of the arcuate outer surface of wheel 20 should be greater or more generous than that of opposed arcuate surface 103 of retainer 100. The outer peripheral surface of wheel 20'is normally given a high polish or chrome coated so as to minimize any abrasive action on a container side wall.

The medium for controlling the in and out movements of wheel 20 relative to the container or workpiece C comprises a pattern cam mechanism 270. As indicated particularly in FIGS. 1, 10A and 10B, pattern cam mechanism 270 includes a roughly V-shaped arm 272 the apex of which is rigidly affixed to rod 283 of fluid actuator 282 and the legs 274 of which are fixed to stabilizing rods 276 and 278. Rods 276 and 278 are disposed on opposed sides of rod in a parallel and spaced relationship to each other. Opposed pairs of longitudinally aligned bracket assemblies 290 and 292 are disposed on the side of spindle 12 opposite to roller 20 for slidably mounting in conventional fashion the opposed ends of the shorter length rod 278 in the manner depicted in FIG. 1. Bracket assemblies 290 and 292 are affixed by suitable well-known means (not shown) to the framework F. Rod 276 is slidably connected to framework F by means of spaced framework brackets 250 and 296 in a manner well known in the art. By virtue of the aforesaid mounting arrangement, actuation of fluid actuator 282 can actuate piston rod 283, etc., and cause corresponding movement of V-shaped bar 272 and opposed rods 276 and 278 as well as movement of hollow rod or shaft 150 and the various elements secured or linked to shaft 150 and making up inboard mandrel assembly 14.

The fluid actuator 255 for wheel 20 and shown in FIG. 1 can be appropriately interconnected to tool slide 254 and base 260 for advancing and withdrawing tool slide 254 and wheel 20 toward and away from the workpiece and in directions generally transverse of the axis A of mandrel assembly 14. As indicated in FIGS. 10A-10B, a four-way fluid control valve 300 is affixed to a bracket 302 that is attached to the left side of slide 254 as shown in FIGS. 1, 10A and 10B and a stylus 301 is mounted on the housing for valve 300. Valve 300 is connected to supply and exhaust conduits 304 and 306 for receiving pressure fluid from a pumping source (not shown) and for returning fluid to a sump (not shown) respectively in a manner well known in the art. A replaceable patterned template 308 is removably affixed in a well-known manner to rod 276 intermediate the ends thereof and is provided with a somewhat shallow V-shaped cam edge 310 disposed in operative relation to stylus 301. It is to beunderstood of course that the cammed edge of a template 308 can have any appropriate shape depending upon the shape desired for the ultimate container side wall S.

After an open ended container C has been loaded or inserted into the container receiving end of spindle 12, the mandrel assembly 14 including plunger 178 is normally advanced from its at rest position and to the left as viewed in FIGS. 8A and 8B. At the same time, due to the rigid connection or linkage of arm 272 to bars 276 and 278, cam template 308 will be advanced to the left with respect to stylus 301. Upon such advancement, solenoid operated valve 300 which can be used to control fluid actuator 255 as well as actuator 282 by way of lines 312 and 314 will have been properly shifted manually by the operator or automatically by appropriate electrical impulse signals from a standard logic drum 250 in a manner well known in the art so as to retract cross slide 254 and forming-roll away from the workpiece. As actuator 282 advances rods 283 and 150, etc., to the right after full insertion of the container in spindle l2, actuator 282 will also cause a corresponding rightward movement of template 308 due to the interconnection of actuator 28 2 and shaft 276.

In view of the above it is to be understood, upon proper shifting of valve 300 and movement of fluid into line 314 from source line 304 and out of the actuators through exhaust line 312 that as actuator 282 moves shaft 283 to the right along with rod 276, fluid actuator 255 will move wheel 20 forward toward mandrel assembly 14. Since wheel 20 is mounted on slide 254, which also carries the housing for valve 300 and stylus 301, the movement of slide 254 and wheel 250 will be selective and restrained in accordance with the contour of template 308, which is in contact with stylus 301.

Various arrangements can be employed for feeding the workpieces C to the spindle device. One such arrangement contemplates use of a gravity operated magazine feeder 18 of standard design that supplies open ended drawn and ironed containers C to the pockets P of an intermittently operated or indexing starwheel 19.

Starwheel 19, which is of conventional design and drive, is provided with a series of pockets P which are successively alignable with mandrel assembly 14 and a feeding plunger on outboard mandrel assembly 14 after the open ended containers C, have been deposited in the pockets P. The starwheel 19 is driven in the proper intermittent manner by a conventional drive motor indexing control system (not shown). The drive motor for wheel 29 can be used to drive logic drum 250.

Starwheel 19 is indexed in such a fashion by its drive motor which is appropriately synchronized with the operation of inboard and outboard mandrels 14 and 14' that a given pocket P as indicated in FIGS. 10A and 103 will align itself with mandrel assemblies 14 and 14' for a sufficient period of time for a given container (0) to be pushed out of the given starwheel pocket P by the outboard mandrel assembly 14' onto inboard mandrel assembly 14; (b) to be worked upon by forming wheel 20 while being retained on mandrel assembly 14; and- (c) then returned to the starwheel pocket P and left in the pocket by the outboard mandrel assembly 14. After the return of the worked upon or formed container C to its original starwheel pocket P, the starwheel is further indexed again the proper degrees and a new container C presented to the mandrel assembly 14, etc., while a previously finished container C is discharged by way of a plastic covered chute316 into a hopper 318 or the like.

'As indicated particularly in FIGS. 8A, 88, 10A and 10B, outboard mandrel assembly 14 used to transfer a container C from a starwheel pocket onto mandrel assembly 14 as well as to hold the container against the mandrel assembly 14 during formation is generally comprised of a fluid operated piston and cylinder assembly 330 controlled by solenoid operated valve 331 mounted on the table assembly 332 of framework F, a bearing block 334 for the piston rod holder sleeve 336 for holding elongated piston rod 338 and a domeshaped head 340 that generally matches the concave shape of the container bottom it contacts, affixed to the end of rod 338. Plunger head 340 can be coated with a suitable covering of rubbery material or the like to improve its adhesion to the container and instead of being rigidly afiixed to piston rod 338 is attached by a suitable bearing assembly 342 as particularly indicated in FIG. 8A so that head 340 is free to rotate relative to piston rod 338.

A typical operating cycle of the apparatus will now be described, reference being made particularly to FIGS. 1, 8A, 88, 10A and 108. As the starwheel 19 advances an open ended container C into alignment with mandrel assemblies 14 and 14' and along axis A fluid actuator 330 also automatically controllable in a manner well known in the art by electrical signals to the solenoid operated valve 331 for actuator 330 operates to move plunger head 340 of outboard assembly 14' forward and into contact with the bottom of the container C in the starwheel pocket P aligned with axis 21. An opening or bore 344 in rod 336 and interconnected opening 344 in head 340 are appropriately connected to a suitablevacuum or pump (not shown) by line 345 (see FIG. 8A). Thus, when head 340 is pushed against and matched with the bottom of a container C, a vacuum can be advantageously created between the container C and head 340 which has the practical efiect of anchoring or locking container C to head 340 as it forces the container C out of the starwheel pocket P and towards the left as viewed in the several figures of the drawings until the open end of the container is slipped successively through a tube shaped guide 350 (see FIG. 2) that can be removably connected by screws 351 to spindle housing 22, if desired, then over plunger head 178 of mandrel assembly 14, flange head 96, lug elements 70 of inner sleeve 26 and underneath outer sleeve 24. Plunger head 340 will continue to move the container C to the left along with inner plunger head 178 and against the bias of coil spring 206 until the stop pin 202 reaches the ends of slots 200 in plunger sleeve 191 for head 178. As plunger head assembly 178 moves backward to the left as viewed in the drawings, the various plunger fingers 168 ride up on their respective alternate cam elements 212 and 214 and expand outwardly in umbrella fashion into a smooth but firm gripping contact with the inside surface of the side wall S of the container. As all the aforesaid operations take place hollow shaft 150, plunger 178, fingers 64, etc., are rotated by drive motor 142 through the medium of belt 146, etc. A container C ordinarily will not begin to spin or rotate until after the bottom of the container is forced into contact with inside plunger assembly 178 by outboard plunger head 340. Since head 340 is free to rotate on piston rod 338 by way of bearing assembly 342 as the plunger head 340 moves to the left, it will not interfere with the rotational movement of the container C.

At the end of the full advancement of the plungers 178 and 340 to the left and while mandrel assembly 14 continues to rotate by virtue of being driven by motor 142, belt 146 and drive shaft 150 spline connected to sleeves 26 and 80, etc., the logic drum 250 will effect actuation of piston and cylinder assembly 282 by control of valve 300 as aforedescribed such that piston rod 283 can be moved to the right so as to cause advancement of the container across the path of forming wheel 20. Prior to this operation, however, and as soon as the container workpiece C is fully located on mandrel assembly 14 as aforesaid solenoid 134 controlling lever arm 124 can be energized by a signal from drum 250 to rotate lever arm 124 clockwise as viewed in FIG. A and effect movement of sleeve collar 120, sleeve 80 and retainer 96 all to the left as viewed in the various drawings. This in turn will cause outward radial movement of lug elements 70 into contact with selected areas on the inside of the side wall S of the container and against the action of finger retaining spring 74. These successive operations result in the container body side wall being fully interiorly supported at two spaced points or in the areas of the plunger fingers 168 and finger lug elements 70 (see particularly FIG. 9).

Solenoid operated valve 300 which controls piston and cylinder assembly 282 is now selectively energized by electrical impulses from the logic sequence drum 250 as shaft 150 and mandrel assembly 14,etc., continue to rotate and this energization effects advancement of drive shafts 283 and 150 to the right against the biasing action of the outboard mandrel 14' as well as the rightward advancement of leg 274 of V-shaped bar 272 and shafts 276 along with template 308 relative to stylus 301.

As noted above by virtue of the fluid interconnection of solenoid operated four-way valve 300 to the piston end of each cylinder assembly 255 and 282 by way of fluid line 314 piston rod 283 and mandrel assembly l4 will be moved to the right and in turn container C at the same time forming wheel 20 which is not positively driven is moved forward into selected engagement with the side wall of the container C under the controlled guidance of the template 308 and the urging of fluid actuator assembly 255. It is to be understood, of course, that a suitable bypass relief valve mechanism (not shown) would be used to return the excess fluid being fed to line 306 to the usual sump or tank when the pressure in the line 304 to the piston side of the actuator 255 exceeded that desired to urge wheel 20 forward but under the controlled guidance of template 308.

it will be observed by reference to the drawings and in particular FIG. 9 that the forming wheel contacts the container wall intermediate the areas of interior contact by finger elements 168 and lug elements and immediately adjacent retainer 96 which has a leading curved edge 103 of appropriate radius. During progressive rightward movement of the container C, expandable fingers 64 and retainer 96 provide full beam-like support for the part of the side wall that is directly contacted by and is worked on by wheel 20. Edge 103 of retainer 96 acts in the manner of a draw ring edge and the wheel. 20 as the punch of a punch press, as the wheel 20 presses inwardly against the container wall in a selected manner with a force that preferably slightly exceeds the metals yield strength. The result is a substantially fully controlled displacement and cold flowing of the metal in the side wall of the previously drawn and ironed container workpiece C, e.g., an aluminum workpiece without buckling or collapsing or splitting of the side wall. A further important consideration involved in this controlled forming is the fact that no deleterious thinning of the side wall takes place by elongation or stretching and there is no material decrease in the workpieces mechanical properties. In some instances this additional working of the workpiece can increase its basic mechanical properties as regards tensile and yield strengths.

The amount of pressure applied to the workpiece by wheel 20 ordinarily will be primarily determined by the rate of feed of the workpiece across the path of advance of wheel 20. This rate of feed is in turn dependent on the thickness and physical and mechanical properties of the article being worked on. In any event, the pressure exerted by wheel 20 while exceeding the yield strength of the metal should be relatively uniform and constant so as to cause the cold flow or controlled displacement of the metal in a container wall in a substantially continuous and uniform fashion during the entire work performing operation regardless of the depth of axial penetration of the workpiece wall by wheel 20. Thus no deleterious thinning of the workpiece wall will take place which could result in built-in weaknesses in the side wall of the workpiece during later use of the final article as an aerosol can or the like, where wall strength is critical.

In any event, good results have been obtained by way of the instant apparatus in cold forming a previously work hardened drawn and ironed cylindrical container C made from aluminum alloy designed as a 3004 aluminum alloy in accordance with ASTM Standards of 1971. The side wall of the container prior to side wall working in accordance with the invention has strain hardened characteristics and a substantially full hard temper. It had an average outer diameter on the order of 2.00 inches and an overall side wall thickness from end to end of approximately 0.010 thousandths of an inch. This initial workpiece had a tensile strength on the order of 43,700 psi, a yield strength on the order of 41,800 psi and an elongation of 2 percent. During the necking-in of the side wall of a container, spindle 12 along with the container was rotated at a speed in the range of about 5,000 to 10,000 rpm and wheel 20 penetrated or moved into the side wall of the container workpiece to a preselected maximum radial or tangential depth of about one-eighth to three-sixteenths of an inch thereby causing a maximum necking-in of the diameter of a formed container C on the order of onefourth to three-eighths of an inch. The finished workpiece has an overall side wall thickness from end to end of approximately 0.0095 thousandths of an inch, or for all practical purposes a wall thickness that was substantially the same as the starting thickness, a tensile strength on the order of 43,500 psi, a yield strength on the order of 40,800 psi, and an elongation of 2 percent.

As the container C is advanced to the right to the fullest extent as determined by the length of stroke of piston rod 283, hollow drive rod 150 will have been moved along with bell-shaped housing 156 and interior and exterior plungers 178 and 340 relative to wheel 20 and retainer 96. In other words, wheel 20 maintains its basic offset position relative to retainer 96 and flanged section 100 thereof even though wheel 20 may move radially relative to the central axis of retainer 96.

In certain wall forming operations it may be desirable to deactivate the fingers 168. This can be done by removing assembly 156 along with its various components 234, 236, 230, 168, 170, 172, etc. Plunger 178 can then be used independently of the above assembly in cases where the required shaping does not start with a severe plunge of wheel 20. In other words, if the preselected maximum penetration of the container side wall is to occur closer to the bottom of the container than the open end, then the assembly with fingers 168 will usually be required to support the side wall during the forming operation.

Upon completion of the forming operation as determined by the synchronized movements of template 308 and wheel 20 logic drum 250 will have been so programmed as to shift the spool in valve 300 whereby the fluid in cylinder 282 will be reversed. This occurs as solenoid operated valve 300 is operated to reverse the flow of fluid through ports 304 and 306 of valve 300 so that pressure fluid moves into the rod ends of piston and cylinder assemblies 282 and 255 through input line 312 causing cylinders 255 and 260 with wheel 20 to move backward and out through line 314 away from the container workpiece C. As rod 283 moves to the left, it takes rotating rod 150 along with it by virtue of the coupling 294 between rod 150 and rod 283. This means that bell housing 156 threadedly connected to rod 150 will also now move or shift to the left relative to the interior plunger sleeve 191 and plunger 178. This results in support fingers 168 losing contact with cam 214 or 216 as the case may be and an interior collapse of fingers 168 in the manner of an umbrella, away from the container side wall.

At the same time valve 300 is operated as aforesaid, cylinder assembly 330 controlling the movements of outboard plunger 340 is also activated by a suitable electrical signal from drum 250 which causes a shifting of the spool in solenoid operated valve 331 and a reverse flow of fluid through assembly 330. This means that plunger 340 will be retracted and moved to the right as inboard or interior plunger 178, etc.,also tends to move sufficiently to the right to release fingers 168 from the container under the biasing action of coil spring 206. Concurrently with the aforesaid actuation of valve 300 and piston and cylinder assembly 282, etc., solenoid 134 is actuated by a signal from drum 250 whereby lever 124 is moved counter clockwise as viewed in FIG. A to force sleeve 80 forward to the right so as to release pressure on finger segments 64 and allow spring sleeve 74 to function and effect the collapse of segments 70 and a disengagement of these segments from the container side wall. As the container is released from mandrel assembly 14, the vacuum existing between outboard plunger 340 and the container bottom allows outside plunger 340 to strip the finally finished container from the mandrel assembly and to redeposit the container C in its original pocket in the C in its pocket. Next as the starwheel is again indexed a new container C will be presented to the mandrel as 'sembly 14 so as to be worked on and a new work cycle will begin as the starwheel moves the finished container C to the chute 316.

'Ilrecontainer C can be cold formed or subjected to rotary drawing with or without a suitable coating having been previously applied to the outside wall surface of the container. Such a coating should have advantageous lubricating characteristics. Coatings having a hydrocarbon base have such characteristics. In the event the containers C are to be used to hold beverages, e.g., carbonated drinks, then food grade approved coatings or lubricants should be employed, such as vinyl organo-' sol type coatings, which have inherent lubricity characteristics and do not break down under the frictional heat generated during the forming process.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention. has

been disclosed and described. It is obvious various changes may be made therein and accordingly it islimited only by the appended claims wherein:

What is claimed is:

1; A method for shaping the side wall of a work hardenediopen ended metal container comprising the steps of iriteriorly and directly supporting a relatively small section of the side wall compared to its overall length along substantially the entire inner periphery thereof and intermediate the ends of the side wall and while in teriorly supporting said container effecting rotation of said container, thereafter moving the rotating container in a substantially straight line transversely of and across the path of an advancing and freely rotatable forming wheel and while moving the container linearly allowing said wheel to selectively and tangentially contact said container side wall in an area on the outside of the 'wall that is slightly offset relative to the area of interior side wall support and effecting a fully controlled and selective cold flowing of the metal in the side wall to produce the desired shape in the side wall without effecting a material decrease in mechanical properties of the container or deleteriously thinning said side wall whereby said container side wall will have substantially the same uniform side wall thickness from end to end before and after said shaping operation.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of interiorly and directly supporting another relatively small section of the container side wall that is spaced from said first small side wall section during the combined rotational and lineal movement of the container.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the forming wheel is allowed to tangentially contact the outside surface of the container wall at a point located intermediate the areas of interior support of the container side wall.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the closed bottom end of the container is engaged and held sandwich fashion by opposed linearly moving and rotating surfaces as the container moves across the path of said forming wheel.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1 where the container is rotated at a speed on the order of about 5,000 to 10,000 rpm during movement across the path of the forming wheel.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the selected pressure exerted on the container side wall by said forming wheel is substantially uniform at all times and is sufficient only to apply a force to the metal in the side wall that exceeds the yield strength of the metal and without noticeably producing a stretch shaping of the side wall.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said forming wheel is gradually and progressively advanced into tangential contact with said container side wall.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cold flow of the metal in the container side wall is generally in an opposite direction to the straight line movement of the container as a whole.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8 including the step of interiorly and directly supporting another relatively small section of the container side wall that is spaced from said first small container side wall section.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the I forming wheel is allowed to tangentially contact the outside surface of the container wall at a point located intermediate the interiorly supported areas of the container side wall.

11. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the interior of the container is supported by arcuate surfaces.

12. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein a forming wheel with a rounded ofi periphery is selected for use in contacting the outside of the container side wall.

13. An apparatus for shaping the side wall of a work hardened open ended metal container and the like comprising a rotatable inboard mandrel means insertable within the container, said mandrel means includ ing an expandable finger means for engaging selected portions of the inside surface of the side wall of the container so as to support said container during the rotation thereof, means for rotating said mandrel means and said container, means for moving said mandrel means in a straight line coincident with the axis of rotation of the mandrel means during the rotation of said mandrel means and the container, a freely rotatable forming wheel located to one side of said axis of rotation as well as being offset relative to said finger means and means for selectively moving said wheel in a fully controlledfashion into tangential and cold flow forming contact with the side wall of said container during its rotation and'movement in a straight line past and across the path of movement of the forming wheel.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said mandrel means includes a second expandable means for engaging other selected portions of the inside sur face of the side wall of the container during the rotation thereof.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 including means for biasing said finger means to a closed position.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 including a rotatable outboard mandrel means which engages the closed bottom of the container during its rotation by said inboard mandrel means.

17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said inboard mandrel means includes a second expandable means for engaging other selected portions of the side wall surface of the container during the rotation thereof and separate means for independently expanding each of said expandable means.

18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein the outer periphery of the forming wheel has arcuate surface means.

19. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said inboard mandrel means includes a retainer element insertable within the container and which cooperates with said forming wheel to effect a controlled cold flow of the metal in the side wall.

20. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said retainer is provided with arcuate fonning surface means which can be contacted by the metal in the container side wall during the cold flowing of the metal in the side wall.

21. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 including a rotatable outboard mandrel means and means for advancing said outboard mandrel means into contact with the bottom of the container.

22. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 including a feeder means for supplying open ended containers to said inboard mandrel means.

23. An apparatus as set forth in claim 22 including an outboard rotatable mandrel for engaging the bottom of the container, means for advancing said outboard mandrel means relative to said feeder means and said inboard mandrel means so as to remove the container from the feeder means and insert it about said inboard mandrel means.

24. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23 wherein said outboard mandrel is provided witha vacuum drawing means for use in holding the container on the said outboard mandrel means.

25. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said inboard mandrel means includes a plunger device adapted to engage the bottom of the container and support the container from the inside in the area of inter-.

section of the bottom and side wall of the container.

26. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 including a template cam means for controlling the movements of the forming wheel relative to the inboard mandrel means and the container disposed thereon.

27. An apparatus for shaping the side wall of a work hardened open ended aluminum container, said apparatus comprising an inboard rotatable mandrel means provided with at least one set of expandable umbrellalike finger means for engaging selected portions of the inside side wall surface of the container during the rotation thereof, an outboard rotatable mandrel means cooperatively associated with said inboard mandrel means for holding the container against the inboard mandrel means, means for moving both mandrel means in a straight line coincident with the axis of rotation of both mandrel means during the rotation thereof and that of the container, means for positively rotating the inboard mandrel means, a freely rotatable forming wheel located to one side of said axis of rotation as well as being offset relative to said finger means and means for selectively moving said wheel in .a fully controlled fashion and offset relation into tangential and cold flow forming contact with the side wall of said container during its rotation and movement in a straight line past and across the path of rotational movement of the forming wheel.

28. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein the outer end portion of said outboard mandrel means is provided with a vacuum producing means for selectively creating a vacuum between the bottom of the container and the outer end of said outboard mandrel means so as to securely hold the container against the outer end portion of said outboard mandrel means.

29. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein said inboard mandrel means includes a second expandable means for engaging other selected portions of the inside side wall surface of the container during the rotation thereof.

30. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 including means for biasing said finger means to a closed position.

31. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein said inboard mandrel means includes a second expandable means for engaging other selected portions of the side wall surface of the container during the rotation thereof and separate means for independently expanding each of said expandable means.

32. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein the outer periphery of the forming wheel has arcuate surface means.

33. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein said inboard mandrel means includes a retainer element insertable within the container and which cooperates with said forming wheel to effect a controlled cold flow of the metal in the side wall.

34. An apparatus as set forth in claim 33 wherein said retainer is provided with arcuate forming surface means which can be contacted by the metal in the container side wall during the cold flowing of the metal in the side wall.

35. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 including a means for advancing said outboard mandrel means into contact with the bottom of the container.

36. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 including a feeder means for supplying open ended containers to said inboard mandrel means.

37. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 including an outboard rotatable mandrel means for engaging the bottom of the container, means for advancing said outboard mandrel means relative to said feeder means and said inboard mandrel means so as to remove the container from the feeder means and insert it about said inboard mandrel means.

38. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein said outboard mandrel is provided with a vacuum drawing means for use inholding the container on the said outboard mandrel means.

39. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein said inboard mandrel means includes a plunger device adapted to engage the bottom of the container and support the container from the inside in the area of intersection of the bottom and side wall of the container.

40. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 including a template cam means for controlling the movements of the forming wheel relative to the inboard mandrel means and the container disposed thereon. 

1. A method for shaping the side wall of a work hardened open ended metal container comprising the steps of interiorly and directly supporting a relatively small section of the side wall compared to its overall length along substantially the entire inner periphery thereof and intermediate the ends of the side wall and while interiorly supporting said container effecting rotation of said container, thereafter moving the rotating container in a substantially straight line transversely of and across the path of an advancing and freely rotatable forming wheel and while moving the container linearly allowing said wheel to selectively and tangentially contact said container side wall in an area on the outside of the wall that is slightly offset relative to the area of interior side wall support and effecting a fully controlled and selective cold flowing of the metal in the side wall to produce the desired shape in the side wall without effecting a material decrease in mechanical properties of the container or deleteriously thinning said side wall whereby said container side wall will have substantially the same uniform side wall thickness from end to end before and after said shaping operation.
 2. The method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of interiorly and directly supporting another relatively small section of the container side wall that is spaced from said first small side wall section during the combined rotational and lineal movement of the container.
 3. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the forming wheel is allowed to tangentially contact the outside surface of the container wall at a point located intermediate the areas of interior support of the container side wall.
 4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the closed bottom end of the container is engaged and held sandwich fashion by opposed linearly moving and rotating surfaces as the container moves across the path of said forming wheel.
 5. The method as set forth in claim 1 where the container is rotated at a speed on the order of about 5,000 to 10,000 rpm during movement across the path of the forming wheel.
 6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the selected pressure exerted on the container side wall by said forming wheel is substantially uniform at all times and is sufficient only to apply a force to the metal in the side wall that exceeds the yield strength of the metal and without noticeably producing a stretch shaping of the side wall.
 7. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said forming wheel is gradually and progressively advanced into tangential contact with said container side wall.
 8. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cold flow of the metal in the container side wall is generally in an opposite direction to the straight line movement of the container as a whole.
 9. A method as set forth in claim 8 including the step of interiorly and directly supporting another relatively small section of the container side wall that is spaced from said fIrst small container side wall section.
 10. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the forming wheel is allowed to tangentially contact the outside surface of the container wall at a point located intermediate the interiorly supported areas of the container side wall.
 11. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the interior of the container is supported by arcuate surfaces.
 12. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein a forming wheel with a rounded off periphery is selected for use in contacting the outside of the container side wall.
 13. An apparatus for shaping the side wall of a work hardened open ended metal container and the like comprising a rotatable inboard mandrel means insertable within the container, said mandrel means including an expandable finger means for engaging selected portions of the inside surface of the side wall of the container so as to support said container during the rotation thereof, means for rotating said mandrel means and said container, means for moving said mandrel means in a straight line coincident with the axis of rotation of the mandrel means during the rotation of said mandrel means and the container, a freely rotatable forming wheel located to one side of said axis of rotation as well as being offset relative to said finger means and means for selectively moving said wheel in a fully controlled fashion into tangential and cold flow forming contact with the side wall of said container during its rotation and movement in a straight line past and across the path of movement of the forming wheel.
 14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said mandrel means includes a second expandable means for engaging other selected portions of the inside surface of the side wall of the container during the rotation thereof.
 15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 including means for biasing said finger means to a closed position.
 16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 including a rotatable outboard mandrel means which engages the closed bottom of the container during its rotation by said inboard mandrel means.
 17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said inboard mandrel means includes a second expandable means for engaging other selected portions of the side wall surface of the container during the rotation thereof and separate means for independently expanding each of said expandable means.
 18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein the outer periphery of the forming wheel has arcuate surface means.
 19. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said inboard mandrel means includes a retainer element insertable within the container and which cooperates with said forming wheel to effect a controlled cold flow of the metal in the side wall.
 20. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said retainer is provided with arcuate forming surface means which can be contacted by the metal in the container side wall during the cold flowing of the metal in the side wall.
 21. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 including a rotatable outboard mandrel means and means for advancing said outboard mandrel means into contact with the bottom of the container.
 22. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 including a feeder means for supplying open ended containers to said inboard mandrel means.
 23. An apparatus as set forth in claim 22 including an outboard rotatable mandrel for engaging the bottom of the container, means for advancing said outboard mandrel means relative to said feeder means and said inboard mandrel means so as to remove the container from the feeder means and insert it about said inboard mandrel means.
 24. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23 wherein said outboard mandrel is provided with a vacuum drawing means for use in holding the container on the said outboard mandrel means.
 25. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said inboard mandrel means includes a plunger device adapted to engage the bottom of the container and support the container from the inside in The area of intersection of the bottom and side wall of the container.
 26. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 including a template cam means for controlling the movements of the forming wheel relative to the inboard mandrel means and the container disposed thereon.
 27. An apparatus for shaping the side wall of a work hardened open ended aluminum container, said apparatus comprising an inboard rotatable mandrel means provided with at least one set of expandable umbrella-like finger means for engaging selected portions of the inside side wall surface of the container during the rotation thereof, an outboard rotatable mandrel means cooperatively associated with said inboard mandrel means for holding the container against the inboard mandrel means, means for moving both mandrel means in a straight line coincident with the axis of rotation of both mandrel means during the rotation thereof and that of the container, means for positively rotating the inboard mandrel means, a freely rotatable forming wheel located to one side of said axis of rotation as well as being offset relative to said finger means and means for selectively moving said wheel in a fully controlled fashion and offset relation into tangential and cold flow forming contact with the side wall of said container during its rotation and movement in a straight line past and across the path of rotational movement of the forming wheel.
 28. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein the outer end portion of said outboard mandrel means is provided with a vacuum producing means for selectively creating a vacuum between the bottom of the container and the outer end of said outboard mandrel means so as to securely hold the container against the outer end portion of said outboard mandrel means.
 29. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein said inboard mandrel means includes a second expandable means for engaging other selected portions of the inside side wall surface of the container during the rotation thereof.
 30. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 including means for biasing said finger means to a closed position.
 31. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein said inboard mandrel means includes a second expandable means for engaging other selected portions of the side wall surface of the container during the rotation thereof and separate means for independently expanding each of said expandable means.
 32. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein the outer periphery of the forming wheel has arcuate surface means.
 33. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein said inboard mandrel means includes a retainer element insertable within the container and which cooperates with said forming wheel to effect a controlled cold flow of the metal in the side wall.
 34. An apparatus as set forth in claim 33 wherein said retainer is provided with arcuate forming surface means which can be contacted by the metal in the container side wall during the cold flowing of the metal in the side wall.
 35. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 including a means for advancing said outboard mandrel means into contact with the bottom of the container.
 36. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 including a feeder means for supplying open ended containers to said inboard mandrel means.
 37. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 including an outboard rotatable mandrel means for engaging the bottom of the container, means for advancing said outboard mandrel means relative to said feeder means and said inboard mandrel means so as to remove the container from the feeder means and insert it about said inboard mandrel means.
 38. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein said outboard mandrel is provided with a vacuum drawing means for use in holding the container on the said outboard mandrel means.
 39. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein said inboard mandrel means includes a plunger device adapted to engage the bottom of the container and support the container from the inside in the area of Intersection of the bottom and side wall of the container.
 40. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 including a template cam means for controlling the movements of the forming wheel relative to the inboard mandrel means and the container disposed thereon. 